Missed chances as Saints and Blues draw

Southampton 0 Birmingham 0

It was a tale of missed chances, goalline clearances and battered woodwork at sunny St Mary’s today as Southampton and Birmingham served up that rarity in football – a thrilling 0-0.

Both sides hit the post and the Saints produced two goalline clearances as a combination of poor finishing, bad luck and inspired goalkeeping left a cracking match goalless.

It had been all go from kick-off, with James Beattie hoisting Geoff Horsfield’s bobbling shot to safety from under his own crossbar after just three minutes.

Michael Svensson missed a sitter shortly afterwards, with England forward Beattie smacking the upright on the quarter hour.

Stern John’s thumping header was goalbound until Graeme Le Saux headed off his line – and that was just the first half.

After the break, Stephen Clemence hit the post with a header after Paul Jones was caught in no-man’s land from a Blues free-kick.

And referee Graham Barber turned down angry Birmingham penalty appeals when David Dunn tumbled after taking on Le Saux.

So, after plenty of huffing, puffing and exciting but sometimes profligate attacking, Gordon Strachan and Steve Bruce had to settle for a point apiece.

Birmingham had almost stormed into the lead after three minutes.

Robbie Savage’s backheel fooled the Saints back line and Dunn turned smartly to set up Horsfield.

The former bricklayer’s scuffed shot was dribbling towards the goal line when Beattie, back defending, hacked it to safety.

And Strachan’s men could and should have netted eight minutes later.

Rory Delap’s left-wing cross found Svensson at the far post but the Swede, totally unmarked, sent his header a yard wide when it seemed easier to score.

Southampton went even closer on the quarter hour. Le Saux’s excellent curling cross was coolly chested down by Beattie – and the England man thundered a left-foot volley against the far post.

Le Saux and Savage were keeping referee Barber busy, with the home left-back somewhat harshly booked for a challenge on Damien Johnson and the visiting midfielder at the heart of several controversial moments.

Bruce’s side had another lucky escape just after the halfway point in the opening period.

Beattie clambered to nod goalwards and the ball deflected off Matthew Upson’s head and just over the bar.

From a corner at the other end, John’s header was goalbound until Le Saux intervened and headed off his own line.

The chances kept coming for both sides, with only a flying save by Saints keeper Jones denying the Blues eight minutes before the break.

John stretched to touch Jeff Kenna’s curling pass into Horsfield’s path – and the big striker’s acrobatic volley was met with a superb tip-over by the Wales shot-stopper.

The action continued unabated right up to the interval, with Kevin Phillips spurning a golden opportunity to net his second goal for his new club.

He only contrived to flick on Fabrice Fernandes’ fine cross just six yards from goal.

Not content with antagonising the opposition and the home crowd, Savage turned his ire on his team-mate Dunn just after half-time.

The Wales midfielder was involved in a heated exchange with the former Blackburn man over the execution of a free-kick.

Savage took it, ignored Dunn standing on the byline, and Clemence brushed the side-netting with a header.

And Clemence went closer still after 55 minutes, heading against the post after Jones flapped at Savage’s set-piece.

After the game’s first quiet spell, Dunn’s 30-yard free-kick sent Jones scrambling across his line to push the ball round his right-hand upright.

And Fernandes fired into the side-netting at the other end 30 seconds later.

Bruce attempted to liven up his team by replacing Horsfield with Stan Lazaridis and sticking Dunn up front.

Barber snubbed prolonged Blues penalty appeals as the game entered its final 20 minutes.

Dunn tumbled under a challenge from Le Saux – but the official waved away spot-kick claims from the visitors, who pursued him across the pitch to voice their anger.

Beattie’s well-hit free-kick stung Taylor’s palms seven minutes from time.

Late on, Jones was quickly off his line to block a shot by Blues sub Clinton Morrison after Lazaridis’ through ball.